By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Public Relations
NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana has been no stranger to disaster during the past decade. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill ravished the state in recent years. Once again the state is in the epicenter of a historic disaster.
During the past week, unprecedented flooding near Baton Rouge has displaced thousands of residents and ruined more than 40,000 homes. While the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary main campus is well outside the affected area, many seminary students and their families are among the victims of this tragedy. The needs are overwhelming and NOBTS is readying for a response as the event moves from crisis to recovery.
“The flooding rains and rising rivers that hit South Louisiana during the last several days have created a monumental catastrophe causing severe damages in homes, churches and businesses far too numerous to list. It will affect our area for a long time to come,” said New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley. “Thousands need food, clothing, and shelter. There will be an enormous need for workers to help rebuild entire communities.”
Kelley said that those who wish to help seminary students affected by the flood may send designated donations to the seminary. Monetary donations should be sent to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Office of Institutional Advancement, 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126. All gifts marked as “flood relief” will be used to help NOBTS students impacted by the disaster.
New Orleans Seminary’s Office of Student Services staff is currently working to identify all the students and other members of the seminary family affected by the flooding.
Those who wish to donate to general relief efforts should contact the Louisiana Baptist Convention (LBC) at louisianabaptists.org or the New Orleans Baptist Association (NOBA) at joinnoba.com/give-to-noba-flood-relief-efforts. NOBA is accepting material donations, such as bottles of water or non-perishable food items at the Baptist Building, 2222 Lakeshore Drive, in New Orleans, LA 70122.
“The three best ways to help are to volunteer to work on an SBC disaster relief team, donate gifts of cash to those helping the affected and those affected, or donate Walmart gift cards to families affected,” Kelley said. “These are the things that helped us the most after Hurricane Katrina.”
Ken Taylor, urban missions professor at NOBTS, is in the earlier stages of planning several volunteer relief trips to the area — dates and details will be published at www.nobts.edu/gatekeeper. All students are encouraged to join in the seminary’s relief efforts or volunteer with for relief trips planned by local Baptists churches.
